The Anderson Intelligencer

A Relic of the Revolution. We have just been shown a beautiful miniature of Washington, painted on ivory by Col. John Trumbull, the hero artist, who was on the staff of Washington during the war for independence.

It will be remembered that the Trumbull pictures of Washington are much younger than those of either Stuart or Peale, for the very good reason that they were painted more than twenty-five years earlier, and this accounts for the fact that they are not much alike. The pictures of Trumbull are not popular, but we see no good reason why they should not be. Washington was but forty years old when he was in active service in the revolution; and as John Trumbull was a good artist, we have every reason to believe that his portraits were accurate likenesses. His original full length of Washington is now in the Trumbull gallery in Connecticut, and the miniature of which we write is in this city. It is on ivory, and when placed under a strong lens shows the most exquisite treatment. We have never seen any miniature more delicately and artistically touched. It is in full military costume and wearing a blue sash. This is the only picture in existence of Washington painted with this appendage. On several occasions Washington wore a blue sash in compliment to the French officers who composed part of the continental army.

The miniature was painted and made a present by Trumbull to one of the officers who came over with Lafayette. It was by him carried to France and presented to one of the female members of his family. It was finally brought back to this country by some descendant of the French family, who settled in Boston, being unfortunately in reduced circumstances, they were induced to part with the miniature, and it fell into the hands of a rich family in that city. Jared Sparks, the historian, had the picture in his possession during the time he was writing his life of Washington, and it was also exhibited several times at the Boston Athenæum and the Historical Society, but continued to remain in possession of the same family, who have had it nearly sixty years, and it is now owned by one of the descendants of the Boston family, who resides in New York. We should like to see the picture go into some permanent gallery, where it would be preserved for coming time.